instructions

1. assemble the go-cart
   
   • Follow the instructions and work with your partner to put the go-cart together.

2. assemble the ramp
   
   • Create a ramp on the floor or the lab bench using two blocks and the ramp. Tape the top of the ramp to the blocks and the bottom of the ramp to the floor or lab bench.
   • On the floor or lab bench, measure one meter from the end of the ramp and mark the position with tape.

3. test drive your go-cart
   
   • Put the go-cart at the top of the ramp and let it go. It should roll down the ramp and go past the meter mark on the floor. If it doesn't, then adjust the position of the ramp and the tape so that it does. Test it a few times to make sure it goes over the tape reliably, every time.

4. conduct your initial experiment
   
   • Now begin your experiment. Have one person be the "timer" and hold the stopwatch. The other person will be the "driver". The driver places the go-cart at the top of the ramp. The timer starts the clock and says go (at the same time), at which time the driver lets go of the go-cart. The driver says "mark!" when the go-cart goes over the meter mark on the floor and the timer stops the stopwatch. Record the time in your lab notebook.
   • Repeat this trial at least 3 times. Make sure to record the time for each trial in your lab notebook!

5. make a hypothesis
   
   • Now put more blocks under the ramp.
   • Make a hypothesis. Do you think raising the height of the ramp will INCREASE or DECREASE the time it takes your go-cart to travel down the ramp or have NO EFFECT?

6. test your hypothesis
   
   • Run at least 3 trials with the go-cart running down the ramp at its new height.
   • Make a bar graph of your results. Put time along the vertical axis of your graph and for each trial, make a bar indicating the time for that trial.
   • Do you notice a difference with the different ramp heights?
   • Now measure the length of your ramp and add 1 meter to that length.
   • Calculate the velocity that your go-cart traveled for each of the trials.
   • Calculate the average velocity for each of the two different ramp heights, and the average velocity overall.
   • (optional) If you have time, you can create a third ramp height and repeat the trials, calculations and graphing for the third height.

7. analyze your data and evaluate your hypothesis
   
   • Examine the raw data that you collected and the statistics (averages) that you calculated.
   • Check your hypothesis. Does your data support your hypothesis? If not, what does the data say? Why?